Big effects on small businesses

Tuesday

Oct 30, 2012 at 12:01 AM

By JOYCE M. ROSENBERG AP Business Writer

Hurricane Sandy wreaked havoc on small businesses along the East Coast on Monday, keeping employees and customers away.

At Angelo's Civita Farnese, a restaurant in Providence, R.I., the lunchtime crowd did not materialize and few customers were expected for dinner. By 12:30 p.m. -- hours before the worst of the storm was expected to hit -- about 10 customers were inside, and owner Bob Antignano had no hopes of getting the 200 to 250 he usually serves for lunch. He had a smaller staff prepare fewer meals than usual, but most of the food was going to have to be donated to charity.

"It's a wasted day and it looks like tomorrow probably will be as well," Antignano said.

For many small businesses, opening depended on whether employees lived close by or could work remotely. Businesses vulnerable to wind and water damage and power outages were forced to close.

Anupy Singla of Chicago had to cut short a visit to New York to promote her new cookbook, "Vegan Indian Cooking."

She was able to squeeze in an appearance at a Williams-Sonoma store in Manhattan before it was forced to close. But a cooking class that she was scheduled to hold for 14 people on Monday night had to be canceled.

But the storm was almost a non-event for Mario Almonte's Manhattan publicity firm.

The 10 staffers of Herman & Almonte Public Relations worked from their homes scattered around the New York metro area.

Almonte said his staffers were doing their normal work, writing press releases and doing research for projects for clients.

"I hardly feel it. We've done this before, anytime one of us has to stay home and log in and just stay in touch," he said.

One of New York City's most popular upscale restaurants, Gramercy Tavern, was among the many that were closed. Managing partner Kevin Mahan said the decision to shutter the restaurant came Sunday after officials said they would close the city's transit system.

"We decided based on the ability of our staff to get to and from work," Mahan said.

The restaurant normally has 180 staffers. Sunday night, it had only 30 and kept only the front part of the restaurant open.

The storm also forced the cancellation of a presentation that Steve Levine planned to make at a trade show in Manhattan -- but he is expecting that even if he lost business Monday that the storm may end up helping him in the end.

Levine's Fairfield, Conn.- based AtmosAir Solutions makes air purification systems for large buildings. The trade show at the city's Javits Center, a convention mecca, was called off when the transit system shut down.

Levine, who was using his cellphone to work at home Monday, said the damage caused by rain and flooding could lead to more buildings needing his services.

"We think this could be an opportunity to help a lot of people," he said.